App Development

serverless architectures and their impact on both web and mobile app development

In the current world of web development and app development, serverless architecture has been a game changer. Traditionally, developers have relied on monolithic architectures where a single server handles all processing and logic. However, serverless computing has turned its paradigm on its head by allowing developers to focus solely on code, leaving the infrastructure management to cloud providers. Businesses are constantly looking for more scopes in serverless architecture. Therefore, by 2025, most companies will rely on this architecture for provisioning, scaling, and maintenance of their businesses. In this blog post, we will explore the fundamentals of serverless architectures and delve into their profound impact on both web and mobile app development. What is serverless architecture and how does it work? As its name suggests, serverless computing architecture does involve servers. However, the key differentiator lies in the abstraction of server management from the developer. In a serverless architecture, web developers write codes in the form of functions or microservices. Additionally, the cloud provider dynamically allocates resources to execute the functions. Some of the most popular serverless platforms include AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions. Serverless architecture can offer solutions to relieve your workload of the duties associated with the architecture, and you only pay for automatic scaling. Since the beginning of its creation, AWS has experienced significant growth in its business. According to a recent survey, 40% of businesses have shifted to serverless architecture. Their key drivers are reduced costs, scalability, developer efficiency, and other significant factors. Serverless architecture is a model where a third party handles all the servers and backend including database, security, storage, etc. This way, an organization does not have to deal with any infrastructure or focus on its integral parts. Enterprises develop and deploy their server hosted by a third party that handles all their logistics and backend support. Therefore, major service providers like AWS, IBM, or Google take all the management duties and maintenance. Understanding serverless architecture better There are certain terms related to serverless computing services that help us understand architecture better. Backend as a service: It is a cloud service model that involves outsourcing all backend apps as well as handling tasks like cloud storage and authentication. Container: This is an abstract layer that packages codes. To promote isolation, multiple containers can run together. Data-driven architecture: It is an architecture that utilizes events such as setting off a trigger and enabling communication between microservices. Cold start: It is referred to as latency or delay of time in a serverless architecture. It occurs when a function is triggered for the first time or after a long period. Concurrency limit: The number of function instances that can run simultaneously in a region pre-decided by the cloud provider. Impact of serverless architecture on web development Microservices Architecture: Serverless computing encourages the adoption of microservices architecture, where applications are composed of small, independent, and loosely coupled services. Hence, this modular approach enhances scalability, fault isolation, and ease of maintenance. Also, it contributes to the overall robustness of web applications. Event-Driven Development: Serverless functions are inherently event-driven. Hence, they respond to triggers such as HTTP requests, database changes, or file uploads. This event-driven paradigm aligns well with the dynamic nature of web applications, enabling developers to build responsive and reactive systems. Backend as a Service: Serverless platforms offer Backend as a Service (BaaS) capabilities. Hence, it allows web developers to offload backend responsibilities like authentication, storage, and database management to the cloud. This abstraction simplifies development, reduces boilerplate code, and enhances collaboration between frontend and backend teams. Impact of serverless architecture on app development Lower operational costs: You can save revenue when using serverless computing because you will have to use fewer human resources and computing power. It also reduces the time of managing, deploying, and maintaining the server of an organization. Since other users share hardware and networking software, the operation cost of serverless architecture is reduced. Proper user-experience: For mobile app development, developers need to focus more on elevated user experience. Since you can spend less time developing infrastructure, you will devote more time to developing user experience and improving app features. This way, you will have the liberty to use a cloud server to engage with the users with a feature-rich interface. Improved scalability: When you use serverless architecture for mobile app development, the app can handle the peak loads reliably. This way, one can achieve horizontal scalability to an extent by choosing serverless architecture. For example, AWS Lambda can quickly mimic and distribute the computing resources at a minimum expense. Enhanced geolocation and latency: Serverless architectures can significantly reduce the latency of mobile apps by distributing resources across multiple locations. This is particularly advantageous for global applications, ensuring a seamless user experience regardless of geographical location. Therefore, you can eliminate latency and make the app perform well irrespective of the user’s geolocation. Challenges and considerations Despite the benefits of serverless architecture, there are some challenges that you need to consider before proceeding with it. Serverless architecture may have some latency called ‘cold start’ when the one has not executed the functions recently. Hence, you can mitigate it with the help of optimized functions and warm-up strategies. At the same time, developers need to focus on the long-term implications of platform selections so that they can minimize vendor lock-in. Moreover, stateless functions are a fundamental aspect of serverless architectures. Managing stateful operations requires additional considerations. Therefore, leveraging external storage solutions or adopting a hybrid architecture that combines serverless with traditional approaches. Conclusion In conclusion, serverless computing has ushered in a new era of efficiency, scalability, and innovations for both mobile app and web development. By abstracting the infrastructure complications, developers can focus on writing codes and developing features. While there are some challenges like cold start and vendor lock-in, the myriad benefits have outweighed these concerns. With the constant evolution of technologies, serverless architectures play a central role in shaping the future of web and mobile ap2p development. Therefore, it empowers developers to create robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for a global audience.